66 El Camino - Project CaMEANo

[Mr. Anderson]

Thanks for the advice Herb!



I've got to put the filler through the side because I will be very limited on space at the top of the tank, and I don't want to have to run the filler through the bed. I should be able to sneak it out of the existing hole in the side of that inside quarter panel. I will mount the cap higher than stock though. Fortunately, Texas doesn't have that many hills For the outside I have thought about relocating the factory door, or doing something a little more "race" inspired. Not a flip cap or anything but I've got a couple ideas I haven't quite nailed down yet.

[jfreakofkorn]

Coming along Nicely....

[MTMouse]

The weight will be mostly on the drivers side where the driver is already not too lightweight himself. Have to route fuel lines across the center of the car. Loss of storage space.

Thoughts?

If you are going to go through that much work anyways, why not move the battery over behind the driver's side and fuel tank to passenger side?

[Mr. Anderson]

A couple reasons...with all I've already got done with the latch stuff, the cage/support for the battery, and the cutoff switch, that' a lot more fabrication that I don't want to have to undo. Secondly, I hate having to walk around my car to pump gas so putting the filler on the passenger side is out but I also don't want to run the fill tube across to the driver's side.

With the larger version of the tank, it will span across the transmission tunnel so no longer will ALL of the weight be shifted to the driver's side, only some. This will also get rid of my concerns of routing the fuel lines across the car, as I can just hook them up on that side of the tank and go through the floorboards with some AN bulkhead type fittings.

[Mr. Anderson]

Thinking of the simplest fabrication possible, I made a pattern that would fit in there and span then entire length without having to make notches or anything in the tank. After about a hundred tries, I finally figured that the capacity of the new tank would be 19 gallons, 1 less than stock. I could find more capacity by dropping the floor of the tank 1" on the drivers side, but would have to start tapering the front edge as it gets closer to the quarter...that would get back about 1.3 gallons. I'm also losing about 6"-7" on the outside because the wheel well is in the way and I'd have to flatten the corner of the tank, plus the cab wall pushed back into the hole so I'd have to do that corner too. But could probably gain about 2 more gallons there. I might do the outside parts though...more to come!

[Mr. Anderson]

Spent a couple hours cutting up cardboard to get the basic shape. Not perfect, but roughly this is what the tank would be like.

[Yelcamino]

It looks good. I assume it will sit lower after you clearance the bottom of it?

[Mr. Anderson]

I still have to cut out the support I welded into the center of the recessed area...the cardboard tank is setting on top of it now. When it's in it will be under the floor. Just didn't feel like getting that dirty tonight!

[Mr. Anderson]

One step back, two steps forward!


The mock up tank is bigger in most dimensions than the real one will be. I also decided to cut it back to 42" wide instead of 44" to give me a bit more wiggle room.


Bet you can't figure out what this is a pattern for!

[bonecrrusher]

Nice...

[Mr. Anderson]

Thanks!

I don't know much about the do's and don'ts of gas tank fab, but I think this will work. I've gone back and forth about whether or not I should build in a reservoir tray and ultimately decided not to. If I ever go with EFI, it will probably be better to build a whole new tank than to make one now that kinda works for both. Since I'm using a mechanical pump still, a simple pickup tube will work fine.

The day got cut short and I'll be back at it tomorrow, but I got this far. It's nice to have access to things like Greenlee punches, dimple dies, stomp shears, sheetmetal brakes, spot welders, and tig welders




I am re-learning how to tig on this project too. I "kinda-sorta" knew how to do it once but only did it for a week and haven't messed with it any in the last 4 years. I used a spot welder on the baffles, never used one before but it sure was nice!

[johnny68]

very nice Eric great job
john

[Mr. Anderson]

Thanks John.

Pretty much finished with it now. Brought it home last night for a test fit and to make sure I cut out the right pieces in the right spots while test fitting in the car. Everything looked good so I brought it back up to the shop this morning and got busy. The holes in the top are waiting on some plates I ordered from Tanks Inc. that have the sending unit and pickup bolt patterns drilled and tapped already. They will be trimmed and welded on top of those holes. The one at the end will be the pickup/vent, the other for the sending unit for the gauge. This was a pretty fun project! Next time I'll remember to wear a long sleeve shirt though...

[Yelcamino]

Very well done!

[DYNODANNY]

Nice gas tank and location. Good progress.

[Mr. Anderson]

Thanks guys.

Now you see it...


Now you don't!


I really need to find a nicer panel, this one is pretty heavily pitted.

[srh3trinity]

That is so cool! I have enjoyed following this thread.

[72ElCamino]

Definitely just clicked through all 14 pages of this build. It is looking pretty awesome.

Keep up the good work!

[bonecrrusher]

Like the james bond gas tank mod!

[Mr. Anderson]

Thanks guys!! Glad you dig the work.

Didn't touch it last weekend (car shows Saturday, Mother's day Sunday), but got the fuel filler knocked out tonight. I hope I don't regret this but I think it will work out. Should look a lot better when the quarter panel is all one color. There will be an aluminum trim plate that fits in the bottom of the bowl...obviously going for a race look.

You might remember the cap thing from early in the thread when I was going to hide it under the bed trim.

I welded it all the way around on the front, the tacks on the back are insurance.




Point of no return!